Urinal Repair Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A urinal repair apparatus wherein the horizontal flange on the rear surface is easily and securely replaced by a repair bracket with simple tools when damaged, without damaging or drilling into the urinal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/908220, filed Nov. 25, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to plumbing and fixture repair devices and in particular to a urinal repair apparatus. Urinals are secured to the wall by a horizontal flange on the rear surface of the urinal. When the urinal flange is broken off, the usual concern is to immediately get the urinal back on the wall and operational again. This requires the immediate repair of the broken urinal flange without replacement of the urinal, since acquiring a replacement may take days. Particularly in conditions where the urinal is in a restroom with a high volume of traffic it may be essential to make an effective repair that is structurally sound. A urinal repair apparatus, wherein the flange on the rear surface is easily and securely replaced by a repair bracket with simple tools without damaging or drilling into the wall or existing flange and ensuring a tight seal to the in-wall waste line, would resolve this problem. The device helps the person performing the repair to avoid damage to walls and tile work, ensure a watertight wastewater seal, and it shortens repair time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is directed to a urinal repair apparatus, wherein the horizontal flange on the rear surface is easily and securely replaced by a repair bracket with simple tools when damaged, without damaging or drilling into the urinal.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification. They illustrate one embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a front view of the first exemplary embodiment, displaying the repair bracket 10, the central aperture 11, the side arms 12, and the side apertures 12A.

FIG. 2 shows a side perspective view of the first exemplary embodiment, displaying the repair bracket 10, the central aperture 11, the side arms 12, and the side apertures 12A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is directed to a urinal repair apparatus, wherein the horizontal flange on the rear surface is easily and securely replaced by a repair bracket 10 with simple tools when damaged, without damaging or drilling into the wall or existing flange and ensuring a tight seal to the in-wall waste line.

In the first exemplary embodiment, a repair bracket 10 is provided. The repair bracket 10 is manufactured flat, and in an arch shape as shown, featuring full rigid metal construction for all of its structural members, preferably in a monolithic piece. A large, arch-shaped central aperture 11 is sized to allow the existing flange of the urinal to be connected to a central wastewater pipe, and ensures a watertight seal. Two side arms 12 extend outward laterally on both sides of the central aperture 11. A plurality of side apertures 12A is provided on each side arm 12 for fastening of the urinal bolts to the wall. The side apertures 12 form a plurality of opposing symmetrical pairs, which vary in size and distance between. All commercially manufactured urinals are compatible with one or more pairs of the side apertures 12A. The repair bracket 10 may additionally feature a lower clasp, bridging the lower opening of the arch-shaped central aperture 11, to ensure a secure enclosure around the urinal flange.

The first exemplary embodiment is intended for installation as a repair or modification by both professional and non-professional repairmen and plumbers to repair a urinal flange where one of the side arms holding the mounting brackets has broken or cracked off the flange.

To use the first exemplary embodiment according to a method of the invention, given an existing urinal with an existing broken flange mounted to a wall by a pair of mounting bolts, the user removes the urinal from the wall, slides the repair bracket 10 behind the broken flange, and lines up a pair of side apertures 12A with the mounting bolts. The user then secures the urinal and the repair bracket 10 to the wall.

The repair bracket 10 would preferably be manufactured from a durable, rigid, corrosion resistant material of substantial structural strength, such as aluminum, steel, or brass. Manufacture of the repair bracket 10 may be completed most cost effectively by cutting or punching the repair bracket 10 from sheet metal of a suitable gauge. Components, component sizes and materials listed above are preferable, but artisans will recognize that alternate components and materials could be selected without altering the scope of the invention.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should, therefore, not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A urinal repair apparatus comprising a bracket; said bracket being flat; said bracket being rigid; said bracket being shaped with an aperture; said aperture being arch-shaped; said bracket being shaped with a pair of arms; said arch being positioned centrally o said pair of arms; said pair of arms being pierced by a plurality of symmetrical pairs of side apertures.
 2. The urinal repair apparatus of claim 1 wherein said aperture is of a size suitable to admit existing flanges of commercial urinals.
 3. The urinal repair apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of symmetrical pairs of side apertures is of a size and distance between to admit bolts of commercially available urinals.
 4. The urinal repair apparatus of claim 2 wherein each of said plurality of symmetrical pairs of side apertures is of a size and distance between to admit bolts of commercially available urinals.
 5. The urinal repair apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bracket is constructed of a monolithic piece of material.
 6. The urinal repair apparatus of claim 2 wherein said bracket is constructed of a monolithic piece of material.
 7. The urinal repair apparatus of claim 2 wherein said bracket is constructed of a monolithic piece of material.
 8. The urinal repair apparatus of claim 3 wherein said bracket is constructed of a monolithic piece of material.
 9. A method of use of the urinal repair apparatus of claim 1 comprising, given the existence of a urinal, said urinal being secured to a wall by a pair of mounting bolts, and an existing flange of said urinal being broken, the steps of: removing said urinal from said wall; sliding said bracket behind said existing flange; lining up one of said plurality of symmetrical pairs of side apertures with said mounting bolts, and securing the combination of said urinal and said bracket to said wall.
 10. A method of use of the urinal repair apparatus of claim 2 comprising, given the existence of a urinal, said urinal being secured to a wall by a pair of mounting bolts, and an existing flange of said urinal being broken, the steps of: removing said urinal from said wall; sliding said bracket behind said existing flange; lining up one of said plurality of symmetrical pairs of side apertures with said mounting bolts, and securing the combination of said urinal and said bracket to said wall.
 11. A method of use of the urinal repair apparatus of claim 3 comprising, given the existence of a urinal, said urinal being secured to a wall by a pair of mounting bolts, and an existing flange of said urinal being broken, the steps of: removing said urinal from said wall; sliding said bracket behind said existing flange; lining up one of said plurality of symmetrical pairs of side apertures with said mounting bolts, and securing the combination of said urinal and said bracket to said wall.
 12. A method of use of the urinal repair apparatus of claim 4 comprising, given the existence of a urinal, said urinal being secured to a wall by a pair of mounting bolts, and an existing flange of said urinal being broken, the steps of: removing said urinal from said wall; sliding said bracket behind said existing flange; lining up one of said plurality of symmetrical pairs of side apertures with said mounting bolts, and securing the combination of said urinal and said bracket to said wall.
 13. A method of use of the urinal repair apparatus of claim 5 comprising, given the existence of a urinal, said urinal being secured to a wall by a pair of mounting bolts, and an existing flange of said urinal being broken, the steps of: removing said urinal from said wall; sliding said bracket behind said existing flange; lining up one of said plurality of symmetrical pairs of side apertures with said mounting bolts, and securing the combination of said urinal and said bracket to said wall.
 14. A method of use of the urinal repair apparatus of claim 6 comprising, given the existence of a urinal, said urinal being secured to a wall by a pair of mounting bolts, and an existing flange of said urinal being broken, the steps of: removing said urinal from said wall; sliding said bracket behind said existing flange; lining up one of said plurality of symmetrical pairs of side apertures with said mounting bolts, and securing the combination of said urinal and said bracket to said wall.
 15. A method of use of the urinal repair apparatus of claim 7 comprising, given the existence of a urinal, said urinal being secured to a wall by a pair of mounting bolts, and an existing flange of said urinal being broken, the steps of: removing said urinal from said wall; sliding said bracket behind said existing flange; lining up one of said plurality of symmetrical pairs of side apertures with said mounting bolts, and securing the combination of said urinal and said bracket to said wall.
 16. A method of use of the urinal repair apparatus of claim 8 comprising, given the existence of a urinal, said urinal being secured to a wall by a pair of mounting bolts, and an existing flange of said urinal being broken, the steps of: removing said urinal from said wall; sliding said bracket behind said existing flange; lining up one of said plurality of symmetrical pairs of side apertures with said mounting bolts, and securing the combination of said urinal and said bracket to said wall. 